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Scriptapalooza Interviews Third Place Winner Patti Wall

Scriptapalooza: How did you come up with your story idea?

A few years ago I realized that there weren't very many movies that dealt with a child losing a parent. MRS. DOUBTFIRE had dealt with divorce and how that affects a family, but I wanted to explore the idea of what a child would do if they could never see that parent again. How would they deal with that grief? What fears would they have? How would they face those fears? And how would that affect the family dynamic? When I think back about what frightened me as a child, I thought of the Bogey Man. That's how BOGEY SIZE IT was born.

Scriptapalooza: How long did it take you to write it?

I have a tendency to let stories cook before I write them. They will float around in my subconscious for awhile. Characters appear first, then scenes begin to play in my mind. The story will slowly fall into place. Once I actually sit down to write, it usually goes very fast. For this story, I worked on act one last spring then set the story aside until since it didn't "feel right" yet. I picked it back up this last December. Then I cranked it out and completed the script in a few months. So over all? The script took about 4 months from first draft to polish, but the story took two years to develop! Yipes! It's amazing that the story has been a part of me for so long.

Scriptapalooza: Is this your first script that you have written?

No, I have seven features and several shorts. I wrote and directed two shorts several years ago, but found my true passion was in features.

Scriptapalooza: Have you entered other screenwriting competitions? If so, have you been successful?

Yes, I've entered several over the last three years. This was my first year entering Scriptapalooza. I'm a two-time Nicholl Quarterfinalist, a Scriptwriters Network Producers Outreach Winner, Project Greenlight Top 250, and a two time America's Best Finalist. Over all I think there were 11 times that I've advance in a competition. I've been very fortunate. This is the first award for BOGEY SIZE IT--Thank you Scriptapalooza!

Scriptapalooza: Why did you enter Scriptapalooza?

To be honest, the first thing that caught my attention was the prize. The competition had been around for a couple of years and it had a good reputation. So I checked out the website and saw all the great things that had happened for the previous winners. No other competition I know of can guarantee twenty reads from prominent companies. No other competition I know of promotes its top 13 finalists. That was amazing. I was sold. I had no idea that I would actually place. What a great surprise.

Scriptapalooza: Advice to other screenwriters?

Oh, dear. All my friends at the Dallas Screenwriters Association will laugh at this response. I'm known for being a cheerleader to other writers. So I might as well throw my two cents in:

So let me give everyone "Patti's Perky Peptalk" (I'll try to be brief, but those who know me, know that is almost impossible!):

First, I recommend that all beginning writers learn everything they can about the craft. Attend every conference and read every book you can on the subject of screenwriting...then throw them out. I meet a lot of new writers that have no clue how to structure a script, what format to use, or how to present their work. You have to take those steps in the beginning. Learn what readers want. Learn what is taboo. Learn about those darn brads! Learn, learn, learn. Once you've done your homework and you know how to present yourself, then you can set all those books aside and write.

Second, build a support system. Join a writers group. Join a screenwriting organization. Writing is a lonely business and it helps to have others in the same boat, especially when that boat feels like the Titanic. Use the MMC system: Find a mentor, a muse and a critic. You need a mentor, someone who you can look up to, ask questions of, or someone who has walked this walk. You need a muse, someone that inspires you to write. Someone who tells you to write, even when you don't feel like it. And you need a critic. Someone who can give you honest constructive criticism. You need that support system around you, for the good times, and mostly for the bad times.

Last piece of advice: Write. Just sit your butt down in the seat and write. No excuses. Just do it. You can go to all the conferences in the world, read all the books, yap at everyone you know about how you're going to make it, but if you don't have the product, you can't sell it. Write from the heart and re-write from the head. So stop reading my advice and go write.



Scriptapalooza: Are you excited to use your new software from Screenplay Systems?

Very. There are some programs I've never used. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on them.

Scriptapalooza: How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?

Amazed, happy, ecstatic. I think I screamed. As did my husband, my parents, my in-laws, my friends...maybe even my cats. It was such a cool feeling.



Scriptapalooza: What are you going to do with the cash prize?

Since I live in Texas, I have to fly to L.A. several times a year to meet with production companies, attend seminars, etc. I'll be using the money to continue those trips. It's wonderful not to worry about where the money will come for the next trip to sunny California. Thank you again, Scriptapalooza!

Updated: 08/23/2001

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